Grenada SAFE program receives grant for student fitness

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Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

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Posted Jan. 30, 2013 at 3:59 PM
Updated Jan 30, 2013 at 4:04 PM

Posted Jan. 30, 2013 at 3:59 PM
Updated Jan 30, 2013 at 4:04 PM

Grenada

GRENADA – The Grenada Elementary School SAFE Afterschool Program recently received an $870 UnitedHealthcare HEROES grant for a student fitness project, stated a press release issued by UnitedHeathcare.

The students will come together to walk, jog or hike as many miles as possible in their figurative “hike” to the top of Mt. Shasta. Youth will engage in various types of physical activities such as nature walks, sports activities and scavenger hunts for an hour every day.

Each day, approximately 20 students will be outfitted with pedometers to measure the average distance they have covered.

The SAFE program students chose the theme, “Fun In The Mountain Sun.”

Grenada Elementary School was one of 10 grant recipients in northern California.

According to the release, UnitedHealthcare awarded nearly $10,000 in UnitedHealth HEROES grants to local youth organizations for youth-led projects that address childhood obesity.

UnitedHealthcare HEROES is a wellness initiative developed by UnitedHealthcare and YSA (Youth Service America) designed to encourage young people, working with educators and youth leaders, to create and implement walking, running or hiking programs aimed at helping fight childhood obesity.

Grants of up to $1,000 were awarded to youth-led programs that include both an activity element, in which kids count their steps, and a service component that increases awareness, provides direct service, enables advocacy on behalf of a cause, or features youth philanthropy around the issue of childhood obesity.

“Once again this year we were amazed by the creative ideas young people came up with to help fight obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles,” said William Olson, M.D., market medical director of UnitedHealthcare of California. “By planning, and then participating in the UnitedHealthcare HEROES program, these youth are working to ‘Step into Service,’ and give back to their communities, as they positively impact the lives of everyone around them.”